Soapy Slippery Baby? No Problem.

If your baby is too big for the infant tub, yet too small for the full-size tub, this bath ring is a great option. You obviously have to watch babies in the bath like a hawk. And trying to feel secure with a slippery sudsy baby can make the process rather stressful. It’s like trying to hold onto a greased pig! Your lil’ monkey can have a great time in tub with the help of the Aquababy Bath Ring. This handy tool secures easily to the bottom of the tub and allows baby to sit up and splash, while staying safe. I dare you to find one sharp edge on this curved beauty.

The recommended ages are 7 months to 16 months, not to exceed 28 pounds. (I actually had to stop using it when my baby was about 11 months old, because he could shift his weight backwards and wiggle his legs out of it.) I found it especially helpful for bathing a baby and toddler together. They could play and interact without the fear of my older child accidentally knocking the baby into the water. Again, watching like a hawk at all times. Find it at Amazon for $30.

January 3rd, 2009 - Posted in Play. Play. Play., Seating | | 0 Comments

Pirate Ship for Toddlers, Ahoy!

This ship may have set sail last year, but it’s still a wonderful toy for youngsters. Thanks to chunky wooden pirates that are easy to grasp and the perfectly sized playset, the Play Town Pirate Ship is a favorite with little kiddos. The working anchor, spinning wheel, cannonball launcher and telescope are interactive, yet no small pieces to keep up with or worry about. It also comes with a cute board book as an added bonus. The ship is on wheels so it can scoot without waves. A few left at Amazon.

December 27th, 2008 - Posted in Play. Play. Play. | | 0 Comments

So Long Gingerbread Men, Hello Shiny Pawns

Remember the old school gingerbread men who seemed to fall down for no reason? Ah, memories. Just like every other game we played as children, Candy Land has been enhanced, polished and shined. The Candy Land Deluxe game comes with sculpted pawns featuring the classic Candy Land characters: King Kandy, Mr. Mint, Princess Frostine and Lolly.  Wait a minute, I didn’t even know the characters had names.  When did that happen? The names I remember are Orange Gingerbread Man, Red Gingerbread Man and so on.

I L-O-V-E-D playing Candy Land as a child. And this is how I remember it. (Looking at it now, it doesn’t seem as wild and crazy as it did back then.)  I think one of the main reasons we loved the game was because we were a bit candy-deprived as kids.

I cheered for joy passing the Ice Cream Floats and shed a few tears when I got stuck in Molasses Swamp. What was your favorite rest stop in Candy Land?

December 19th, 2008 - Posted in Just for Fun, Play. Play. Play., Trends | | 0 Comments

10 Baby Gifts UNDER $10

December 10th, 2008 - Posted in "Best of the Best" Lists, Holiday Shopping, Play. Play. Play., The Green Life | | 0 Comments

Cutiepieosaurus

I’m not usually a big fan of plush dinosaurs, but this funny guy is oozing personality galore. Meet Sigikid Ankylosaurus Sweety Dinosaur. Standing 10 inches tall, he’s not ferocious at all. He’s really cuddly thanks to his soft microfiber outer fabric.

The TRex is actually my favorite, but he’s currently extinct out of stock. There’s something really funny about his big head, little arms and big feet. He kinda reminds me of an ex-boyfriend. Poor guy.
Shop Maukilo for lots of Sigikid creations.

December 9th, 2008 - Posted in Play. Play. Play. | | 0 Comments

Helmet Heroes: Cheesy? Yes. Plastic? Yes. Fun? YES!

These colorful, loud, little helmets have certainly gotten a bad rap in the blogosphere. And yes, I agree - the commercial is pretty annoying. But the reality is, these things are fun and extremely entertaining.

They’re called Helmet Heroes and the proud mommy is Playskool. You can get a Race Car Driver or a Police Officer. It’s really just a speaker, some lights and a bunch of buttons. Using his or her legs, your tot gets an “in-car” experience via the helmet.

My four-year-old son has one. He got the Race Car one from a friend for his birthday and honestly, I groaned when I saw it. My husband immediately grabbed the batteries while my son jumped around yelling “Helmet Heroes!” I must admit, my son loved it and we had a good laugh watching him fly through the house, obeying the commands from his imaginary pit crew.

If this toy had been around in the early 70s, my husband would’ve been wearing it 24/7. I know, I know. I’m all about the educational wooden toys too, but this is a pretty cool gift for little boys age 3+.

December 2nd, 2008 - Posted in Holiday Shopping, Just for Fun, Play. Play. Play. | | 0 Comments

5 Ridiculously CUTE, Colorful, Green Gifts for Baby

Eco-friendly baby products are hotter than tattooed celebrities right now. Why? Because going green with baby just makes sense. The world is a scary place based on what you can see. Who wants to think about the invisible dangers lurking around like toxins and chemicals?

Glass baby bottles stepped off of the dish rack and onto the runway, thanks to WeeGo. These adorable mini WeeGo bottles by babylife are draped in colorful modern silicone sleeves. If you’re looking for a cute and functional gift for the new mom in your world, grab her a rainbow of WeeGo goodness. She won’t be disappointed. $12

Introducing the cutest calorie-free cupcake you’ve ever seen. (Based on my expertise in the cupcake kingdom, I know moms will be buying these for themselves.) Four tasty knitted treats are perfect for baby’s little hands. They’re made through fair trade practices. Don’t forget the milk! $35

I love leggins for babies because I’m secretly still a huge fan of legwarmers. Anyway, these leggies come in fun styles and one size fits all. The cotton is 100% certified organic. The best part is, you don’t have to wrestle with tights during diaper changes. $12

7 Days of Bodysuits? You betcha! Nobody knows organic baby clothes like Kate Quinn. Boasting bright colors for every day of the week, this gift set is the perfect idea for new parents. $92

Bath time calls for lots of monkeying around with these adorable 100% organic cotton hooded towels featuring everyone’s favorite playful friend - the monkey! These towels are spa-grade with organic terry towleing on the inside and organic french cotton knit on the outside. I’m jealous!  $39

November 26th, 2008 - Posted in "Best of the Best" Lists, Baby Shower Gifts, Holiday Shopping, Mommy Time, Nursery News!, Parenting, Play. Play. Play., The Green Life, Trends | | 0 Comments

Five Great Gifts for Autistic Preschoolers

As the mommy to a four-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I’ve discovered many wonderful  mainstream toys that are both fun and therapeutic. Toys that improve language development, sensory and motor regulation, build core strength, muscle tone and coordination. Toys that spark my son’s inner drive, encouraging more engagement and child-lead interaction.

Here are five of MommyQ’s favorite toys, from $18 - $300. Most of them are eco-friendly, which I personally love. I’m not speaking as a medical expert here, just as a mom. If you’re the parent, relative or friend of an autistic child, maybe this list will make your holiday shopping a little bit easier. I hope so!

Wheely Bug - If you haven’t seen these cute little ride-on critters, you need to check them out. I bought the cow for my boys last month and my ASD son loves it! (Also available in bee and ladybug!) It really helps him with coordination and balance, while building his core. We he first started riding it, he was wobbly. Now he can lift his feet and maneuver it around every corner. It has helped him adjust to motion that had bothered him in the past. In my opinion, this is one of the best gifts for an ASD child. Make sure you buy the big Wheely Bug to get the most use out of it. Eco-friendly! $70

Breakfast Menu Set - These types of wooden toys are great for a variety of reasons. Many autistic children have issues with food due to textures. By incorporating pretend food into playtime, it seems to make real mealtime easier. You can ‘prepare’ the pretend food together and takes turns ‘tasting’ it. That way your child is more open to the idea of trying different foods. Manipulating smaller toys, like shaking the salt & pepper shakers, improves fine motor skills too. Plan Toys is a wonderful green company and makes a huge selection of incredible wooden toys. Eco-friendly! $18

LIKEaBIKE - This is a unique eco-friendly bike sans pedals! That’s because this bike was designed to boost your child’s confidence and comfort in riding a bike, while building their balance, core strength, etc. They start out slow, usually walking with it and then as they improve, they can go much faster. Obviously this is not great for hills or steep surfaces, but on flat streets, in the driveway or at the park, it’s a wonderful (and fun) toy. Our OT therapist has mentioned it multiple times. Eco-friendly! $300

Haba Ball Track Master Builder Set - Many autistic children love toys that spin and roll. My son does a variety of activities at OT therapy involving marbles, which is why I love this toy from Haba. Your child can build the track and then watch the marbles spin through it. This is the big set and Haba also makes a smaller set for $43. This toy is perfect for fine motor skill improvement and development. It also gets the imagination and interaction rolling. Eco-friendly! $200

Hopscotch Puzzle Mat - Another great toy for improving balance, motor skills, interaction and organizing thought processes is this cute Hopscotch mat by Alex. First you put it together like a puzzle, then you play the game. This gives you child a great opportunity to practice hopping on one foot and then jumping with two feet. It’s also a good game for ASD kids to play with their friends or siblings. $23

Read Ode to a Wheely Bug to see the cow in motion!

November 6th, 2008 - Posted in Holiday Shopping, Mommy Time, Parenting, Play. Play. Play., The Green Life | | 0 Comments